During August, nine-liter spirits case sales in the control states grew, in spite of a strong comp, at a rather brisk 4.9% rate over same period sales last year. Alabama (2.8%), Iowa (6.2%), Idaho (7.2%), Montgomery County Maryland (0.8%), Maine (7.1%), Michigan (1.9%), Mississippi (6.2%), Montana (11.2%), North Carolina (5.1%), New Hampshire (2.3%), Ohio (6.1%), Oregon (5.6%), Pennsylvania (3.3%), Utah (33.9%), Virginia (4.8%), Vermont (3.6%), and Wyoming (7.3%) reported monthly growth rates for August that exceeded their twelve month trends. The growth rate for West Virginia (-2.5%) fell short of matching its twelve-month trend. Control state rolling-twelve month volume growth, 2.6%, is down from July’s reported 2.8%. Spirits volumes have grown 3.0% year-to-date compared to 3.3% a year ago.
Control state spirits shelf dollars were up 6.6% during August while trending at 4.6% during the past twelve months. Alabama (3.2%), Iowa (6.7%), Idaho (9.8), Montgomery County Maryland (7.3), Maine (8.8%), Michigan (3.7%), Mississippi (8.6%), Montana (11.6%), North Carolina (8.3%), New Hampshire (7.2%), Oregon (7.8%), Pennsylvania (5.9%), Utah (38.5%), Virginia (6.8%), Vermont (8.8%), West Virginia (2.7%), and Wyoming (11.1%) reported growth rates exceeding their twelve month trends. Ohio (3.1%) grew shelf dollars at a rate below its twelve-month trend. Shelf dollars in the control states are up 5.0% year-to-date compared to 5.6% last year.
Price/Mix for August is 1.7%, slipping from July’s 1.9%.
August’s Control State spirits growth rate was effected by the Control States’ reporting calendars:
- Utah, with 2.5% of Control States’ spirits nine-liter case volumes and dollars, reported five weeks of sales this year versus four weeks of sales during August, 2016, artificially inflating sales and skewing Control States results. Utah had six more selling days during this year’s August than during last year’s.
- Overall, August, 2017 had six more selling days, 1.1% more, than last year’s August.
- After equivalizing nine-liter spirits case sales with respect to selling-day variations, August’s volumetric growth is 4.4%, and rolling-twelve-month volume is up 2.5%. Likewise, after equivalizing shelf dollars, August’s control states shelf dollar growth rate is 6.1% with a twelve-month trend of 4.6%.
- August’s equivalized Price/Mix is 1.7%.
Irish Whiskey, with 1% share of the control states spirits market, was August’s fastest growing category with 17.7% reported and a twelve-month trend of 14.5%. Vodka, with 35% share, grew during the same periods at 3.8% and 1.7%, respectively. All categories grew at rates exceeding their twelve month trends--Brandy/Cognac (9.7%), Canadian Whiskey (5.8%), Cocktails (4.3%), Cordials (3.5%), Domestic Whiskey (7.9%), Gin (1.2%), Irish Whiskey (17.7%), Rum (1.2%), Scotch (2.3%), Tequila (10.9%), and Vodka (3.8%).
August’s nine-liter wine case sales growth rate was 7.7%. Pennsylvania (reporting 7.9% nine-liter case growth for wines), New Hampshire (-2.9%), Utah (29.8%), Mississippi (9.4%), Montgomery County Maryland (5.4%), and Wyoming (11.7%) are the control states that are the sole wholesalers of wines and spirits within their geographical boundaries. Rolling-twelve month wine volume growth in these six control states was 3.2%, up from July’s reported 2.7%.
| 9L Cases CM% Chg | Shelf $ CM% Chg | Price/Mix | Control States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Control States | 4.9 | 6.6 | 1.7% | |
| Central Region | 3.4 | 4.4 | 1.0% | IA, MD, MI, OH, PA, WV |
| NE Region | 4.1 | 7.9 | 3.8% | ME, NH, VT |
| NW Region | 11.3 | 13.5 | 2.2% | ID, MT, OR, UT, WY |
| Southern Region | 4.7 | 6.9 | 2.2% | AL, MS, NC, VA |
Click to review charts.
For more information about the NABCA, visit www.nabca.org.
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Established in 1938, NABCA is the national association representing the Control State Systems - those jurisdictions that directly control the distribution and sale of beverage alcohol within their borders. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, NABCA’s mission is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and assure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol.